IT industry analyst Tom Logan said: “This is a shrewd move from Microsoft. When you think about it, there’s far, far more uncool people than cool people in the world.

“Probably less than 0.0000003% of the human race is cool.”

A Microsoft spokesman said: “iPads are fine if you’re the type who likes to sit in trendy bars, sipping so-called ‘lattes’ and eating ‘paninis’ – whatever they might be – while yapping on about ‘chillwave’ music to another idiot in tight trousers.

“However if you resent those people, don’t care about clothes and like word processing, spread sheets and making checklists of real ale pubs, this machine is for you.

“It’s militantly unexciting.”

The spokesman said: “Surface follows in a proud tradition of machines that are less cool than their counterparts – Betamax video recorders, ZX Spectrums and Blackberry phones – but don’t give a shit.”

Sales executive Stephen Malley said: “This is perfect for me, I have a dull job that I dislike and want something that reflects the inescapable mundanity of my existence.”